Shropshire's wacky races hits £100,000 target - with pictures and video

Record crowds came out in the sunshine to support this year's Richards Castle Soap Box Derby, held at Hanway Common next to the tiny village near Ludlow.

So many came that organiser have no doubt they have cracked the £100,000 mark of money raised for good causes over the years.

The derby is now in its 14th year and prior to Sunday's event, which saw 31 adult teams and five junior teams take part, had made £91,020 for 49 different charities and local causes.

Kate Pearce, a member of the organising committee, said: "It's been a fantastic day, we definitely had more people than previous years and we've definitely broken the £100,000 target just from the gate – and we yet to have the teams' sponsorship money to come in."

She said the winning time was once again by regular racer and course record holder C12 from Chippenham.

"He didn't quite beat his own record this years but came close – and he managed to recover from quite a bad crash.

She said the Hartley Racing team, all the way from Fareham, won best turned out team, and they weren't the only ones who had come from a long way away.

"We had teams from London, Gloucester and Leicester and some new ones as well as regulars," she said.

Among the more eye catching novelty carts was one with a Wallace and Gromit theme, she said, and another team, called "Whose Bright Idea Was This?" had a unique design with bicycle handles in place for the steering rather than the more traditional car steering wheel.

The charities to benefit from this year's fundraising will include the CLD Trust – Strong Young Minds, Ludlow Foyer and Smile for Ludlow Maternity.

As well as the soap box racing there was also packed programme of entertainment for all the family with entertainment and displays from The Hereford Landrover Off-Road Club, lawn mower racers, Ludlow Autograss and Ludlow Motor Club, with a bouncy castle, face painting and an array of food and drink.